Beauty Queen turned entrepreneur, Agbani Darego has finally opened the flagship store for her denim line, AD By Agbani Darego located in the heart of Lekki Phase 1, Lagos. It has already turned a haven for many denim-loving celebrities who besieged it to pick different designs and show support to the former Miss World. In this interview with us, she opened up on her journey to stardom, the secret of her very radiant look and sundry issues. Enjoy reading.

Why did you come up with AD Clothing Line?

Like I said earlier, I graduated last year and I was in a stage in my life where I wanted to do something different. As most models that you come across think, it gets to a stage in our lives that we think of what is next for us? What else can I do aside from this? And for about a year before I actually graduated, I had been working on a different line. Somehow, one day I stumbled on the idea of Denim. I love denim, I understand it, I know the way it works. I know there will be good profit margin for it and I knew I could create something that would work for the different shape ideals for the African woman. That is why I chose to do that, it is not the only project I will be working on, it is one of the projects I want to do but going into fashion retail, I wanted to create a niche and I saw that there is also a shortcoming in the market in Nigeria for something like this and that was one of the reasons I chose to do that.

From your research, you saw there is a need because definitely a lot of Nigerians put on Denim.

Nigerians or not have a few pairs of jeans in their closet. So, our research shows that the average person has at least seven pairs of jeans, so if one person has seven; if I can do something that people want, it will be okay. If you walk down the streets, you will definitely see six out of 10 people you meet especially on weekends wearing jeans or some form of denim products. It’s not just me wanting to do a line because I want to do a line, it’s me wanting to do a line and also knowing there is a need for something like this in the market right now; not only is it denim, or any other product. The quality is great, the price is okay like the young adult can come and buy my jeans, the girls that are still in college, the girl that just got a new job can actually afford to buy my jeans and she can look forward to enjoying what I have so worked hard to create.

Does it make any economic sense doing Denim rather than doing the high end fashion that people reckon?

It does make economic sense because one, it’s denim but my product also is denim based. If you know me, you know that I love comfort, I love simplicity. I wanted something that every young girl can look forward to, look up to me and could actually afford and look forward to dressing. I thought  there was a lack in the market for something like this and that is why I chose to do it.

You are opening it at Lekki, you are an ambassador of this country and Lekki, Lagos is away from where most people who look up to you are located. How do they get the products?

Someone asked me this question before, this is my first flagship store, it’s not the only store I hope to open. I do hope to have branches all over the country not just in Lagos. Also, I am working on an online vendor that will carry my clothing line online so you can go on the computer and just order wherever you are, it will get delivered to you. You could be on the mainland, Abuja, Port Harcourt,  Kano, Bauchi, you can order the clothing online and it will get delivered to you. So this is just the initial first sale launch, the next time you meet me, we would probably be talking about the online vendor.

At what point did you really make up your mind to do this?

I started thinking of what I wanted to do a year before I graduated from the college. I already had business plans, ideas on papers, the denim line is not the first idea I created; however, it was the idea that spoke to me, the idea that after doing research that I knew that this is the good one to start and to enter the fashion retail market with. It’s not the first and last one I am going to create. Hopefully, denim was just something I love, understand and know the way it works and I know who our consumer is. Most of these young girls wear denim; that is why I finally decided to do this now. But to answer your question, I worked at least a year on different ideas of what I wanted to do and eventually came out with this one. I can start with this and down the road, I will introduce more products or other lines.

Any plan for Nigerian/African imports?

I don’t know, we will see as the mind grows like every designer or creative person will tell you, as the mind grows and you see what is needed in the market, you adapt to the market and add to it. So if I see that the people want that of course, I am going to give them what they want because again at the end of the day, I am creating and designing for the consumers. So if the consumers demand that I give them something like this, then I am open to giving them something like that.

Everybody wants to associate with the name Agbani Darego, how do you intend to beat piracy?

You are right, pirates or piracy, there are counterfeit products all over the place. I would hope that since the name is so popular and people appreciate who I am and what I have done so they don’t do that to me but even when that happens; we will obviously figure out how to deal with the idea and people making counterfeit products. Also, the quality is not going to be the same, and the workmanship is not going to be same. I have worked hard on this and put my heart and soul into creating something. I am 100% happy about.

You studied Psychology while in school and you are in a fashion and modeling world. What is the connection?

I studied Psychology because I wanted to and I have always been intrigued by the human mind and how it works, how we think and create, that is why I studied psychology. Psychology has helped me in terms of advertising; you just realize you understand people better so be it in modeling, be it in any field. In my fashion retail now, I do think psychology plays a huge role, I think I have succeeded in creating something based on the time frame that I have because psychology is one of the courses important to all professions including politics. It’s just something that helps you understand the human mind and if you understand the human mind, of course you can understand what different human beings want.

Holistically, how would you view the Nigeria Fashion industry and modeling industry, do you treat them together or separate them?

Modeling is a part of fashion so they work hand in hand together but at the same time, fashion is fashion. Honestly, I do feel like one can’t work without the other. We need models to sell the clothes and models need fashion to make a living so it’s a combined industry.

As a beauty queen, you had your NGO that you are passionate about, what happened to it?

As a beauty queen, I didn’t have a NGO, I did work with other existing NGOs and I currently still do that. I work with NGOs. I believe I have a good purpose and I am actually making a difference in the society. I still can do that, I can work with people as long as I believe that their courses are legitimate and I am actually seeing the difference that they are making in the society, then I can lend my name and support to those NGOs.

About two or three years back, I remember you talked about Stylogenic and you were so passionate about it, how far have you gone?

Stylogenic was a show that the producers came to me to be a part of, it wasn’t my own original concept but I believe they are still working on creating that project. However, AD by Agbani Darego was conceptualized by me; so this is my brainchild that I have. Stylogenic, yes maybe in the future we can go back to it but then again, it was something that I was approached to do, not something I conceived.

How deeply involved are you with the Port Harcourt International Fashion Week?

I hosted a couple of fashion shows. I have been doing international fashion shows, so in Native Vogue International Fashion Week, my role is official and it’s my home state.

Years after you won Miss World, you are still in shape, how do you manage to keep in shape?

There is no secret; I think it’s just about healthy living, exercising, and healthy eating. I am lucky that I come from a family that has good genes so I have that but obviously you know I think we should be aware of what we eat, what we put in our body, so I just take care of what God has given to me.

As a beauty queen, a beauty judge, what do you think of different kinds of pageant brands that are coming up in Nigeria?

 I know there are several pageant competitions, I will just hope that these pageants actually consider the girls that participate in them because they see it as an opportunity for them to earn a living and be exposed. I just hope the pageant organizers are taking into consideration that these young girls are  looking up to them as role models.

Do you think the girls are worthy of the global title?

Well, Miss Nigeria represents women in Nigeria and that is where it ends. MGBN as far as I know is the only one that has license to go into international pageants. I am not the first MGBN, there were previous ones before me, my point is that I am not the first and I am not the last, so I am not a judge of who is worthy and who isn’t. I was lucky enough to get that privilege and I am hoping sooner that somebody else will get that privilege.